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Our self-guided Rail tour provides the same service, quality, and most features of our guided Scenic Alps by Rail tour. We plan each self-guided itinerary based on your individual interests and will provide you with prepaid accommodations, train passes and our favorite rail journeys and sightseeing suggestions. 
We’ll plan your rail adventure so that you can travel with confidence.
Self-guided rail tours are for those that want to venture out on their own and not be tied to the group's timetable. They are ideal for travelers that are comfortable with travelling on trains with luggage and navigating to each location following daily directions. On a self-guided tour, you can enjoy the flexibility and freedom of travelling on your own, without the planning.
You should plan to fly in and out of Zurich, Switzerland. We will provide detailed directions and a 1st Class 15-day Swiss Travel rail pass to get to Lucerne which is the starting location of your tour.. It is also possible to arrive from a different location than Zurich. Since our tour is 10 days, you will likely have extra days on the rail pass so you are able to extend your stay in Switzerland if you would like
You can book a self-guided tour about a year in advance, however in some cases we may not be able to book select hotels until about 6-8 months prior. Keep in mind that it is best to book a self-guided rail tour more than 3 months before your travel date. Accommodations can become quite limited and seat reservations (on specialty trains) open to the public to book 90 days prior to your travel date. When you are ready, you can book this trip directly on our Alpenwild website under Rail tours with a $500 per person deposit. Your final payment is due 90 days prior to the tour and we will email you a reminder when it is time.
Yes! If you want to make changes to this rail tour itinerary, we can customize it. Please note that we have a 3 night minimum to put together any self-guided tour package.
This tour includes 9 hotel nights in 3 and 4-star hotels that are conveniently located in each town and includes a buffet breakfast each day. You will also receive a 1st Class 15-day Swiss Travel Rail pass as well as the required seat reservations for the scenic trains: Glacier Express, GoldenPass and Bernina Express. In addition, we provide a detailed daily itinerary, basic city maps (where possible), complete listing of all hotels with contact information, and train schedules to follow each day.
In general, we do not include airfare, luggage transfer, lunches, dinners and specialty excursions on cogwheel trains or cable cars, etc. In addition, travel insurance and items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, laundry, medical expenses, evacuation costs, etc. are not included.
The single supplement is an additional charge for someone that is staying by themselves in a single occupancy room. We always calculate our tour prices based on double occupancy rooms. This means that the price of the hotel room is then split between 2 people. However, if only 1 person is in that room, then we need to charge an extra fee to cover the price for the other half of the room. (Example: If a double room = $300 then it would be $150 per person for sharing. That same room would be $300 for the 1 guest, so we would need to charge an extra $150 as a single supplement to cover the price of the whole room).
We try to book double rooms for all our single guests where possible. But some hotels have a true single room and will only give those rooms to our single guest. If this happens, then the price for that single room is usually a little less than a double room. We’ve already factored this into the total price of the single supplement. A solo traveler many not always have the same size room as our guests sharing a room, but be assured that our solo guests are paying for what each hotel has provided for rooms.
Seat reservations are NOT required on Swiss Trains (except for the specialty scenic trains such as the Glacier Express, GoldenPass and Bernina Express which we will make for you). You can use your pre-activated rail pass to get right on the train when you are ready. Be sure to have your passport available as some conductors will request to see it with your rail pass.
Yes you should plan on taking your luggage with you on the trains each day. Keep in mind that some trains have steps to get on/off, so you must be confident that you can lift your luggage when needed. Most trains have a luggage rack at the end of the train compartment where you can store your bags when traveling. Hiring a local company to provide luggage transfers for your group is very expensive, but can be arranged upon request.
Yes, it is possible to start on any date between June-October. Please note that some of the specialty scenic trains do not run in some winter months, so this is why we offer this tour spring to fall.
We typically book you in small, family-owned 3- and 4-star hotels which reflect the character and hospitality of the surrounding alpine community. (The only exception is the hotel in Montreux and the final hotel night in Zurich which are larger hotels but in the most prime locations). We choose hotels that offer a great location, a high standard of comfort and quality, and a solid value to our guests.
We will mail out tour documents about 30-40 days prior to the start of the tour. In the packet, you will receive a detailed daily itinerary, hotel flyers with directions and contact information and rail passes, etc.
Swiss Francs is the currency in Switzerland. You can easily stop at an ATM machine in the airport, train station, or grocery store to withdraw Francs cash. ATM machines typically provide the best currency exchange rate and most places do accept credit cards.
You do not need a special visa to enter Switzerland because they are part of the European Union accepting the Schengen visa. You WILL need to have a current passport to enter Switzerland and it must not expire within 6 months of your trip. Make sure it will still be current.
You should plan for casual comfort when walking around towns and travelling on trains. Be sure to wear comfortable walking/tennis shoes with GOOD TRACTION, and clothes that are easy to pack and hand wash if needed. Ultimately, personal preference and comfort is important, however we do have some specific recommendations on our Alps Walking and Sightseeing tour packing list.
Self-service laundry is very rare in Switzerland. Many hotels will offer laundry services, but it is usually quite expensive and can take 1-2 days to return. It is also possible to hand-wash some items in your hotel room sink.
We will provide you with an emergency contact number to use during your tour if needed. You can also feel free to email or call your travel specialist for any additional questions or concerns.
You can refer to our terms and conditions which also includes our cancellation policy. Trip Insurance is available through a link on our website to protect against certain unforeseen circumstances that may cause you to have to cancel.
Alpenwild tours are designed for people who are energetic, active, and filled with a spirit of adventure. We rate this trip as easy but you should be capable of walking about 1-2 miles per day and at least 1/2 mile in one stretch. There are additional hiking and walking options available for those wanting more activity. You should also be able to handle your own luggage to get to the trains when needed. On one day you may take a mountain railway to an elevation of 11,388 feet and you should be able to handle staying at this elevation for a couple of hours.
